Asking For Workers

Matthew 9:35-38 (NLT) 35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

The fact that Jesus told his followers to ask God for more workers for the harvest should cause all of the cells in our body to tingle. Too often we have been under the influence of unbiblical thinking that tells us that God will take care of things all by himself. After all, this way of thinking goes, God is all-powerful. Why is it then that Jesus tells us, “You have not because you ASK not.”? If God is all-knowing, he knows what we need. If God is all-powerful, then he can give us what we need. What is the use of asking then? Isn’t that unnecessary?

The Bible says, “The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind.” (Psalm 115:16) In Genesis the Lord gave Adam and his descendants authority over the earth to rule and to take care of it. This authority was usurped by Satan, but Jesus, as a man, redeemed this right and authority for all who call on his name as Lord. Therefore, we who are in Christ have spiritual authority on earth. Jesus made this clear when he commissioned his followers to go and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:18-20) Since God has given us this authority, he waits for us to ask for his intervention on earth. He waits for us to ask for workers to be sent to the harvest. Our job is really not that hard. We need to ask! Then we the Lord of the harvest sends us, we need to go. Nothing else should stand in our way.